Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-28
THREE CENTS PER COPY.


tious containing declarations In favor on me
withdrawal of Virginia from the Union under
certain conditions we're rejected by decisive
and significant maiorities.
Without going into the details or the action
OF Kentucky and Missouri during the same
time. Il Ia enough 70 say that prior 20 April 10,
1851. the people of those states were, posi-
BILE. more decided In their opPos'uoh " so0'''
sion Than the people Of virginia.
In Maryland. before the date | have men
toned. practically the whole population ss.
opposed 10 the action Of the cotton states anu
desirous OF peaceful solution OK tne Puon"
difficulties ana the maintenance OF the Union.
You will thus see that the people OF tne
border States were far from accepting me
mere fact Of Mr. Lincon's election a. n sum-
cicnt reason for a dissolution OF the Union, ana
that their attachment T. twas not 50 ioisy Al
fected by the secession Of the cotton states
The border States contained ---- of the
whole slave population Of the south. and near
ly double a. many yotors as the cotton states.
The force ard significance OF their unbroken
adhesion tO tho Uuion will become more ap-
parent when IL Is remembered mat they hah
far greater and more Immediate concern tnAn
the people Of the cotton states, IN any innu-
ence unfavorable 10 the South which the elec-
tlon of Mr.. Lincoln might exercise upon inter-
ests connected with slavery.
THREE QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH SLAVERY.
The practical questions connected with that
Institution In It's relations % the Federal 6oV-
ernment which IL was supposed might DC az
fected by the accession OF Mr. Lincoln 10 power
wsre three The rendition OF fugitive Slaves
escaping 20 the northern States, the prohlbi.
ton OF slavery in the Territories OF the unueu
states. and Interference with slaves IN uo
States by melting them 20 insurrecuon.
II was concerning these three matters. anu
the relations Of the Federal Government 10
them, that the angry controversy between po-
utical parties In the North aud South on tne
snhtect OF slavery had erisen. and the appre-
hension that the Interests and safety OF the
people Of the slaycholdtng states would De ln-
juriously affected In these three particulars, Dy
The election Of MIR. Lincoln, was among the
reasons alleged I'm Justification OF the secession
OF the cotton states. In all these matters, a.
have said, the border states hal greater anu
more immediate interest than their southern
neighbors.
More slaves escaped annually from Virginia
and Kentucky than from all the cotton states
combined. Slave lahor was most profitable and
slave property most valuable on the cotton,
rice, and sugar plantations OF the extreme
South. and the emigration OF slaves from thoso
States T. the remaining territories OF t1e niteu
states WAS insignincant On the other hand,
many Shareholders Tn the borier slave states
who were unwilling to encounter the warmer
and more eneryatinR climate OF the extreme
South might find II 10 their interest 70 remove
with their slaves 10 the rich. new Territories OF
the West, where the climate and productions
resemble those Ia which they were accustomed.
IL was by this class II emigrants that kentucky
and Tennessee, aud afterwards great
| mart Of Missouri had been mainly
settled, and many Of the same class would
| doubtless lave removed further West with mo
| advance Of population In that direction. 10
these people the exclusion OF slavery IRON mo
Territories was n real grievance, while Il would
probably have benefited the people OF tho cot
| ton States by increasing the emigration OF
| slaves 10 those states and reducing the cost OF
| that kind of labor
Asto interference with slavery In tho States
| and melting them to insurrection, the border
| slave States served a. protection u tnelr
| southern neighbors and were much more ex"
| posed TO this appalling peru than they. In
| deel, Virginia had recently been the scene OF
| an attempt 10 incite insurrection among her
| slaves: an attempt. by the way. which Mr.. LIN
| coin and the Republican party OF his day de-
nounced rs the grayest OF crimes"
| II the considerations 10 which lhaye referred
| we're entitled 10 have any influence In deter
| mining the policy Of the southern states be-
| cause Of MIR. Lmc0ln's election th8t innuenco
| should have been most strongly felt I'm the
| border States, where the danger OF mischief
| was greatest, and yet these we're the states
| that adhered most steadtastly 70 tho Union.
| This fact tends strongly 10 show tho difference
| OF opinion between the people OF the cotton
and Of the border slave States and serves to
Illustrate the sincerity Of the attachment OF tho
latter 10 the Union.
| have thus endcayOred tO show you how mat
ters stood before the 18Th Of April, 1851, aud 10
point out the important fact 80 essential 10 a
| correct understanding Of the history Of that
eventful period, and yet - constantly over
| looked, disrcgarded. or misrepreseuted ina,
| with reference 20 "A dissolution Of the Union fOr
any cause existing before the 18th Of April, the
| difference between the people Of the border
| States and those Of the cotton states was a.
clearly marked as the difference between the
North and South had been before the election
Of Mr.. Lincoln.
THE EFFECT OF LIScoLN's PROCLAMATION.
There remains but one other fact TO bt
stated in order that you may understand tht
! ~
states by Mr.. Lincolu's proclamation.
those States cast at the presidential election
Of 1850 So .615 votes, A. against 4,s0No east pl
tho cotton States. and OF those S0I,bIJ votes Al
overwhelming majority was opposed 10 seces
| sion AMI ia favor OF tbc maintenance OF IN
Union. Bnt firmly a. this great body Of citi
| zens adhered 10 the Union, thor atiachmen
| was one OF affection and not OF fear Earnest
. | as they desired it, maintenance they desire
| that it should be maintained by America
| and not by fusslan methods Incl
confidence In the principles OF tue Aineri
| can system or government Was unbOunlel lt
them II seemed that these principles wer'
strong enough TO deal successfully with all th'
troubles OF the country. n time were allowed
p for passion TO cool, for the voice Of reason 4
make itself heard, and fvr a calm and carues
appeal 10 the genuine attachment OF the pe0
pie to the institutions Of their country. 81
these peaceful mc0ns they were confident tina
tho people of the cotton States could DO brOugh
IN time 10 the views ana opinions held by guci
a vast majority OF their fellow-citzens Of tn,
slayeholding States, the Union ninoritles In
the former states be- converted into mhiorittes
the ordinances OF secession repealed. ana Ia,
| troubles Of the country composed 10y what
have called the American method OF dealing
/ with political questions.
This mode OF meeting the difficulties that be
set the country did not require a arecogntiOn bJ
the Government OF the right OF secession. Il
concerned itself more with the modo Of dealing
with Il a. a faet than with the disputed question
Of its legality. IL demanded only recognition
on the part Of the Government Of the sounC
principle that VOVer j. not necessarily lost DO
cause It's exercise Is not pushed % an extre
nifty IL demanded patience With human in
nrmities, and, above all, an unqnestOning faitf
Ia the suniciency OF American institu-
tl0ns, acting upon the reason and not upon the
fears OF mon, tO make tho Government perma
nent aud strong enough for all the purposes
Of good and wise government To carry ou
any plan Of pacincatiOu based upon these prin
cilles, the border slave States were ready 4
give the Federal Government the support O
more than two thirds Of the votes Of the Who'll,
South, and from the time Mr. Lincoln wa.
elected, In November. 1861, the people Of thess
states did not cease 10 urge upon tho Fedora
authorities the policy Of peace.
Nhil0 affairs were In this critical state the
sound Of the guns in Charleston harbOr broke
upon the ears Of the anxious friends Of the
| Union like The voice Of DOM.
IL matters not, for my present purpose, upoT
whom rests the responsibility Of that act W,
are concerned only with is effect upon the gOy
ernment M Washington, 20 which all eyes Wer,
now anxiously directed.
Before the smoke had rolled away fron
sumter. the answer 70 the guns Of its assailant
was delivered In the proclamation of Mr.. Lin
coin Of April 70, 1851.
Let me read that m0mentous document
because IL was Mr. LincOlns answer 10 the pee
pie Of the border States as well as 10 the a.
saianis Of Fort sumter. Tie proclamation
as follows, emitting that part which summon
Congress 20 meet Ia extraordinary session y
the 4th Of July following:
THE n0xBSTOUs DOCUMENT
Whereas tho laws OF the United State
nave been for some time past aud now are op
pOsed and the execution thereof ObstFucted Il
the states Of South OF Carolina. Georgia. Ala
bama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana. an
Texas by combinations too powerful % be- sup
pressed Dy the ordinary course OF judicial prO
ceedings, or by the powers vested In IN
marshals by law:
NOW, therefore, /, Abraham Lincoln, Pres
} dent Of the United States, in virtue Of Ia
J power In me vested by the Constitution an
} the laws, have thought ft 10 call forth, aud q
! | hereby call forth, the militia Of the seyera
states Of the Union. 10 the aggregate number {
; | 5000, In order 20 suppress said combination
and 70 cause the laws TO be duly executes
! The details for this object win he inmedlatel
! communicated 10 the state authOritls
; through the War Department | appeal
| all loyal citizens 10 favor, facilitate. an
aid this effort 10 maintain the homo
the integrity and existence Of our nd
tloDal Union and the perpetuity Of populs
: government, and 10 redress wrongs alread
| long enough endured. deem it proper 10 sa
> that the nrst service assigned 20 the force
! hereby called forth will probably be 10 N
, | possess the forts, places ana property whic
I have been seized from the Union, and la ever
event the utmost care will DO observed co,
atana. -. -.